Just like a bride and groom vow to join together for better or for worse, commercial parties joining together through a joint venture must make a similar promise to share in profits and losses. In a recent decision from the Suffolk County Commercial Division, Justice Elizabeth H. Emerson took a close look at the parties’
New York Yankees Up to Bat in the Commercial Division Against Former Minor League Affiliate
A few weeks ago, my colleague, Madeline Greenblatt, wrote a blog about a $1.75 million breach of contract action brought against Bob Dylan in the Manhattan Commercial Division. In her blog, Madeline reminded practitioners that New York courts will not consider extrinsic evidence to aid in the interpretation of an unambiguous contract, especially on
A Gentle Reminder to Get Specific with Your General Releases
[I] irrevocably release and forever discharge [the Company] . . . from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, claims, complaints, liabilities, obligations, charges, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, damages, expenses, counterclaims, cross-claims, [etc.] whatsoever, in law or equity, known or unknown, [I] ever had, now have, or may have against the [Company] from
“I’ve Been Hacked!” (OK, But Have You Been Damaged?)
A critical inquiry to be considered at the outset of any litigation is whether the party seeking relief is, in fact, a proper party to seek the court’s adjudication of the dispute. This concept is known as “standing,” which is a threshold determination to be made by the court, the absence of which warrants dismissal
The Secret’s Out: COVID-19 May Not Excuse Commercial Rent Obligations
The lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret (“VS”) has struggled in recent years. VS’ overtly sexy aesthetic has failed to keep up with shifting consumer tastes towards comfort and gender and size inclusivity. In 2019, VS canceled its marquee fashion show, which had run annually for 23 years, showcasing supermodels in VS’ trademark angel wings strutting the
Commercial Division Recognizes Successor Liability as Separate Cause of Action, Not Just a Theory of Liability
“Successor liability”, is it a theory or distinct claim or cause of action?
In a recent decision, Justice Sherwood analyze
d the applicability of successor liability as a distinct cause of action, rather than merely a theory of liability in New York. In Meyer v Blue Sky Alternative Investments LLC, plaintiff Meyer moved to amend
Commercial Division Finds Allegations of Complete Control Insufficient to Support a Veil-Piercing Theory
A familiar fact pattern: ParentCo is the owner and controlling shareholder of SubCo. ParentCo completely controls SubCo. The two companies have the same officers, issue consolidated financial returns, and the profits and losses of SubCo are passed through to ParentCo. ParentCo deliberately keeps SubCo in a cash-starved and undercapitalized state, so SubCo is entirely dependent
New York’s Long-Arm Statute Thwarts Dismissal In International Shareholder Derivative Action
Undoubtedly, unsuspecting foreign corporations may find themselves having business connections in New York and subject to the jurisdiction of New York courts.
This blog post focuses on a recent decision by Hon. Andrew Borrock of the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court for New York County in Matter of Renren, Inc. Derivative
Class Action Lawsuit Dismissed: Commercial Division Finds Company’s Alleged Misrepresentations and Omissions During Stock Sale Non-Actionable Under Securities Law
Many of us have previously heard the expression that there is a fine line between fact and fiction. In securities law that holds especially true where companies that risk walking the “fine line” in their registration statements and prospectuses could find themselves liable to their stockholders.
In a recent decision, Justice Barry R. Ostrager granted
Pandemic Aftermath: The Rise Of Interstate Depositions And Discovery
With global commerce massively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, post-pandemic litigation will undoubtedly result in a rise of interstate depositions and discovery. In turn, litigants engaged in actions pending outside of New York State will seek depositions and discovery from individuals and businesses residing in New York. As a result, New York attorneys will likely